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As a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP), you know the long road you have to travel down to earn those three powerful letters behind your name. That CPP means the world to you, and it should also mean the world to your clients. Educating them on why they should always choose a CPP can be tough sometimes.

To help, we've created a nifty tab (and its corresponding content, of course) that you'll be able to install on your company's Facebook page. It's meant to help you convey why hiring a CPP (specifically: you!) makes all of the difference in the world!

We created the content and will update it periodically, but we can't install it for you. So how do you go about installing this bad boy? There are quite a few options!

It costs a little bit of money ($30/month for most everyone, but if you have more than a few thousand fans, prices increase) but is the easiest way to go about installation. What's the phrase? "You can have two of the three out of: good, cheap and fast". This is good and fast, but isn't super cheap. To make it as easy as possible without actually doing it for you, they walk you through the installation process screen shot by screen shot (them doing it for you isn't an option: consider it a learning opportunity).

It is a cheaper version at $15 for up to 1,000 fans (or only a buck for up to 100 fans). It won't walk you through the installation process in as detailed of a way as Shortstack, but it'll be still pretty easy to get it up and running if you do it step by step. If you can handle $15/month, this is a great way to get this information out on your page and in your fans' feeds.

Sounds redundant, right? Use Facebook to put something out on Facebook? We list it last because it's crazy complicated, but... FREE! First you'll have to sign up for an App Developers Account (pretty simple - just click here and you'll be all set).

The next part is where it gets complicated - the best way is to watch some great YouTube videos. Make sure the videos are recent as Facebook has being giving the apps some facelifts as of late. Here's one that might work for you!

It might take a few minutes, but once you've installed the tab, share it on your timeline to show clients why it's important for them to stay with a Certified Professional Photographer. If you run into any issues, contact the app hosting service directly, they are the experts in this case.

(If you want to make edits to the tab graphic itself, always remember the image needs to be 111 x 74 pixels and you'll have to pack a punch in that little space.)

These are just three ways to install the tab - if you simply Google "Facebook App Installation" you'll discover a world of options, these are just the ones we are pretty familiar with. If you find another option you enjoy, please let us know! Email Sarah at sackerman (at) ppa (dot) com.

Every year, hundreds of photographers submit their best work in the International Photographic Competition (IPC) to see how they stack up on the world's stage. It's an opportunity to showcase your creativity, skills and work, while learning and shining some light on areas you can improve (because we all get better when we know what we need to work on).

The best way to learn is by ordering a critique of your image(s). An IPC judge will record a video of your image, reviewing every detail. They will explain your score, what you did well, and of course, what you need to work on for next year. There is no better place to get some one-on-one feedback on how to improve your work!

And this year, PPA's working on a solution to help the IPC judges going a step further. For the first time ever, judging will be streamed live from the comfort of your own home. Closer to the date, we'll release the access information and you'll just have to hop online during judging (August 4-7). You'll be able to see what images make it and which fall short.

You'll even hear the judges' rebuttals and see how they challenge each other's evaluations of some images! Remember, the best way to improve your skills is to hear the judges' comments on your work, so you'll want to listen closely as they discuss your entry! And for those who entered images in IPC this year, you will even get an update via text message, as to when your image will be presented and judged so you'll know immediately if you merited!

If you're still hesitant to enter a professional photographic competition, checking out the live judging from your computer will be great way to see what it's really like. In the meantime, below you will find some great PPAedu videos that will also help give you some perspective:

Entries for the IPC opened on May 26 and will remain open until next Thursday, June 26. But don't worry, if your images aren't quite there yet, late submissions will be accepted until July 10 with an additional fee.

As a professional photographer, you deal with people's insecurities in front of the camera on a daily basis. We asked OurPPA Facebook followers to share the craziest things clients have asked for, and the photography community came forward with some pretty ridiculous situations. Here are our favorite responses:

• "A bride asked my husband to stretch her limo to make it appear more expensive." Martha C.

• "An architect asked if I could open the front door in Photoshop. On another shot he needed me to turn on all the lights. I told him that was level 7 magic and I was only in my 3rd year at Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry." Erica B.

• "A bride who was taller than the groom asking me to stretch him after the pictures were all taken to make him look taller than her by a foot or so." Jillian C.

• "A middle-aged housewife once asked me to shoot 'romantic, soft, tasteful photos' of her for her husband, for their anniversary. She then produced an 18" stack of Hustler magazines, all opened to the centerfold as examples." Anjani M.

• "While shooting a maternity shoot, the mom-to-be who was barefoot turns to her husband and says, 'Honey, you need to take your socks off.' Then looks at me and asks, 'Or can you Photoshop them?'" Tyson P.

• "I had a studio in Hastings, England, and we used to make copy negatives of old photographs on 10x8 film and retouch them. An elderly lady came in with a photo of her dead husband who was wearing a trilby hat. She asked my assistant if we could remove his hat. The answer was yes madam. Assistant asked what color was his hair, her reply was 'Don't be stupid - you will see that when your remove his hat.' On another occasion a lady bought in 2 very dead stuffed monkeys to be photographed and framed. My wife asked the lady if she wanted them mounted. The lady blushed and said 'No thank you, holding hands will be adequate. The joys of being a GP Photographer.' Ian H.

• "At a newborn shoot, most babies are sleeping. One parent wanted me to Photoshop their child's eyes open. Really? Not only that, but during the shoot they started annoying the sleeping baby trying to wake her up. Job well done. Now you have a screaming baby." Michelle C.

• "To make sure her face cheeks were even because her collagen injections were not FDA approved. (And was given a before photo for reference)." Rachel T.

• "Can you turn my head sideways for a profile photo? I like my profile." Marty R.

• "I once had to 'remove' a rather large penis on a horse. Bad enough, but then the family insists that he 'never' does that (which I took to mean the horse must really like me) *blushing*" Shannon M.

• "'I don't like my daughter's outfit, if I take a picture of a skirt. Can you Photoshop it on her?' Umm no." Heather S.

Not cool, Jesse Chen, not cool. This software engineer at Facebook posted a tutorial on how to remove those pesky little watermarks from professional photos. The posts have since been taken down, but this read from Fstoppers is worth a look.

To go along with the post about Jimmy Chin, we thought it might be helpful to see how to take a photo from a kayak on your next adventure - and what do you know? Photo Naturalist just happened to write a little blog about it!

Tis the season for senior portraits! If you're in the market, here are some great ideas, tips and inspiration from Seniors Ignite on how to make the male clients get comfortable in front of the camera.

New to the world of photographing interior architecture? If you're wanting to expand your product line, the School of Digital Photography has some great need-to-know info that will get you started on the right foot.

Meteor showers are something else - and capturing them just right can be difficult. Outdoor Photo Gear has their top 10 tips for capturing the perfect image! (When is the next shower in your area? Check them out here!)

There you have it, the favorite blog posts of the week from your PPA team! Don't forget that you can share your own posts, or other stories you have enjoyed, on theLoop.

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Remember picture day back in high school? You'd dress up in your "coolest" clothes and the photographer's assistant would sit you on a stool, tell you to smile and sit up straight, and then a blinding flash. Done. Your pasty, zit-dotted face was then frozen in that awkward moment forever, for all to see in the school yearbook as a representation of you. Hey, are your eyes even open?

Cringe no more; you're done with those terrible times! You're a part of a great organization that's helping you and nearly 27,000 other members be better photographers. And we all want to see you.

In our Faces of PPA campaign, you've been getting to know other members through creative self-portraits and quotes on their journey through photography with PPA. The best part is that you can be yourself! It's not a generic yearbook shot on the same backdrop as everyone else--you can really let your creative flag fly.

A few quick things to note:

1. Think of your marketing, people! This can be a piece to show to your potential clients on your web and social pages. That means put some camera equipment in the picture. Then anyone who sees the photo will say "Hey! That dude/dudette must be a photographer!"

2. No collages of your work. The focus is YOU and only you here.

3. THERE IS NO DEADLINE. Take your time. Have fun.

Let's get to know you and your unique brand. Visit ppa.com/faces, answer a few questions and submit an image of yourself that you can be proud of. We've got over 27,000 members but have only seen a few hundred of your faces. We need to see yours too!

Step out from behind the camera for once. You better not be behind the bleachers!

As an incoming freshman at Flagler College you have to attend the annual convocation. When you enter the auditorium, members of the staff and faculty hand you a railroad tie. During the assembly, students are told that today is the first day in the journey to building their legacy.

Flagler College, located in St. Augustine, Florida, was originally the Ponce de Leon Hotel built by Henry Flagler. It became a college in 1968. Henry Flagler is most famous for founding Standard Oil. He was also the mastermind behind building the East Coast Railway. It runs all throughout Florida and up the East Coast.

Flagler, being a businessman, decided to build a hotel along the railroad, so the elite in society had a place to vacation. He didn't want them to stay for the weekend, because then everyone could do that. His hotel was exclusive. In order to stay at the Ponce de Leon Hotel, you had to stay all season.

Before he made it big in the oil industry, Flagler originally went into business with his brother-in-law to form the Flagler and York Salt Company. With the American Civil War, the demand for salt drastically decreased and they eventually went out of business. Flagler lost $50,000 he borrowed from his family as well as another $50,000 he saved from years of working. Because Flagler didn't let that failure stop him, he went on leave a legacy that is still standing and impacting thousands of students every year.

I graduated from Flagler College in December of 2009 with a degree in Communication. I got a job straight out of college working as an Associate Producer at Channel 4 in Jacksonville. After a year, I determined journalism wasn't for me. All my life, I wanted to be a journalist and I found I didn't like it. It was crushing.

Broken and a little lost for direction, a former teacher offered me a job writing press releases part time at Flagler. After a month or two, the Web and New Media Services Department decided to take me on as a contractor for a couple of video projects. Once that work ran out, my boss asked me if I knew how to use a camera.

Entering into the International Photographic Competition (IPC) can be intimidating, even if you know the 12 elements of a merit image like the back of your hand. It's easy to speculate what the judges are looking for in an image before they consider granting it a merit, so down below you'll find resources to clarify all this. You'll also find some tips on things to really avoid.

There's also a 3 easy-to-digest, 20-minute videos that break down the 12 elements. Watch them one at a time or back to back--however you learn best! They are must-watch for those who are newer to photographic competition, and an excellent refresher for those already preparing their entries this year. And because it's all on PPAedu, you can watch them as many times as you'd like. It's just one of the many benefits of your PPA membership.

Now you're well on your way to submitting a merit-worthy image at this year's International Photographic Competition! Entries are open May 26 - June 26 (or July 10 with a late fee). If you want to get the full experience, be sure to order a critique of your image. A judge like Michael will record a video showing you what you did well and what cause the image to fall short for a merit. It's a very effective way to find out what to work on and there's no better way to improve your craft!

These three videos and over 250 more are available to PPA members and PPAedu subscribers! Not a PPA member? Join now or subscribe to PPAedu to get full access to all the PPAedu on-demand videos.

If you want to catch the travel bug, skip this post. Here are PhotoShelter's 24 best places to photograph around the world. From Antarctica to Arizona and everywhere in between, these images will inspire you to update your passport and take to the friendly skies.

This is a whole new way to take a photograph. Luke Evans and Joshua Lake let their digestive systems do the work and judging by the results on Beautiful Decay, the outcome is stunning. Check out the black and white images here.

As a photography professional, you know how to get ready for your next assignment. You know how to pack your equipment, check you gear and prepare yourself for a successful event. Well, let FStoppers introduce you to Richard B. Flores. He takes his prep to a new level of syncing, charging, cleaning and more! It's really something to be admired!

PetaPixel brings you the most complex video to showcase the city of Boston we've ever seen. The video includes tilt-shift, HRD, hyperlapse and more in one quick video -you'll definitely find something that inspires you!

If you're an avid tweeter, you'll love this from Lightroom Killer Tips. They've come up with a game plan for your presets for the newly released Twitter profiles. Read on to keep your profile looking fresh!

If you're just getting started in this industry, you will love these tips from Digital Photography School on working with models (or if you've been in the industry for a while, it's a nice refresher)! Get tips on picking locations, outfits, remember model releases and more!

There you have it, the favorite blog posts of the week from your PPA team! Don't forget that you can share your own posts, or other stories you have enjoyed, on theLoop.

1. Get inspired! Take a good look at who else enters in the IPC--there are some pretty creative folks out there! See if any of their work trips your creative trigger and helps you produce even more out-of-the-box images. Nothing helps get the creative juices flowing like being exposed to fantastic works of art.

2. Define your style. The more you compete in photographic competitions, the more you'll be able to hone your personal style. As you fine tune your skill set, this signature style can become a great calling card for your business!

3. It will make you a better photographer. Opt to get an image critique and listen to an IPC Judge walk you through what you did right, what could use some improvement and offer suggestions on things you may have never considered. Even award-winning image makers can learn a thing or two from a fresh, professional set of eyes. Apply what you learn to your next client session and see your business grow!

4. Take on a personal challenge. You want to stay current, push yourself outside your comfort zone and stretch your artistic abilities? The IPC gives you an amazing opportunity to do just that! Set goals for yourself and keep entering year after year to continually improve your work. You can also work on projects that aren't in your typical client assignments. Broaden your photographic horizons! It might transpire into a new product line.

5. Prove you're the best. Let's face it, we all like a little (or a lot) of validation now and again. Entering in the IPC lets you put your best work up against photographers from around the world to see who reigns supreme. And you can see how you can improve year over year to improve yourself! Talk about a confidence boost! Your clients will see your swagger.

6. Charge higher prices. Being able to call yourself an "award winning photographer" gives you some serious clout over your local competition. You can now justify higher prices by letting your clients see the difference between yourself, an international award-winning photographer and that mom with a camera down the street. And if you continue to compete and earn your masters of photography, the designation of "M.Photog." behind your name will pack a punch.

7. Make connections. Even the best photographers can't do it alone. Make some life-long friends along the way as you compete. You'll bond over the thrill of victory (and the occasional agony of defeat). Connect on theLoop or the OurPPA Forums to get support from newbies or seasoned vets on anything competition-related. Still making edits hours before the deadline? They'll be right there with you. And there are countless mentoring opportunities--between the portfolio reviews done by PPA Judges at Imaging USA or finding mentors in your community before you enter, there are plenty of folks who are eager to help you!

8. Judges & clients want different things. Your clients probably don't come to you because they know you'll rock the 12 elements of a merit image by name--but they do come to you because of your style and brand. Competitions give you an opportunity to take risks your clients might be afraid to take with you.

9. Rejuvenate your love of photography! Fall back in love with what you do. Get out of any mental rut you may be in, stretch your creative wings and do what you love! You have time to work on these works of art (early bird entries close June 26th), so you won't be as constrained by crazy turnaround times. You might be amazing what epiphanies you have with a little extra time on your hands.

10. It's the next step. You're an accomplished professional photographer. With earning high scores at the IPC, you'll earn merits that will set you on the path of earning your master of photography degree. You can also become a judge after earning 18 exhibition merits, taking the judges workshop and starting with local or regional competitions. Continuing your education is important to staying relevant and in tune with what your clients are expecting.